I am sure that everyone has experienced this, but this is the first time it has happend to me in a tournament, and boy did it make my rounds hard to swallow.

My timing was off. You know the problem, footwork just "feels" off, your making the "hit" at the wrong points. Usually, I just end up taking a "what ever" attitude and not worry about score and come back tomorrow, but that is during practice rounds, and it always worked. But in a tournament, I just can't give up.

How do you get your timing back? I just had the worst tournament I have ever played and would like to prevent this from happening again. (Timing wasn't the issue on day two, I just had bad kicks with no recovery).

Right now, almost anything would help.

slow down.

slow down.



Yeah I know you have seen me play, and I usually have a pretty powerful run up and follow through.

But how are you inferring "slow down"?

Arm speed? Run-Up? Concentration?

This weekend my upshots and putts were pretty good. However on my approaches/saves I was usually having to throw out of a bush or have to throw a strech-around-a-tree forehand roller (yuck). I was hitting a normal % of 25-30ft putts, however they were usually saving 4.

I also think that this has taught me not to play courses in tournaments that exploit my weaknesses (tight, heavily wooded, lefty holes). Although I was very impressed with my side arm performance. It was my first tournament throwing side arm, and the first to throw competitive distance rollers back hand. Had 3 rollers over 430ft!

At least I had some good points to reflect on, the rest as more embarrassing then taking a 56 at White Park (BG) without the OB's.

Thanks for your help MDR.

I think he's talking about reducing your run-up and/or slowing down your throwing motion (but still going for max acceleration through the snap). Yes, you will not get your max distance but you'll be able to dial your drive back in within 2-3 throws (hopefully!). I don't play nearly as often as most of my competitors and therefore my mechanics sometimes break down (so I am very familiar with your situation).

Perhaps some of it was mental as well ("I can't play tightly wooded lefty courses very well, etc."). If you believe that the course is hard then your score will reflect that!

Slow down your footwork. Like Greg said, keep accelerating arm speed through your hit. I've had the problem before, and usually if I tell myself to relax and slow down my footwork, my drives get smoothed out.

Perhaps some of it was mental as well ("I can't play tightly wooded lefty courses very well, etc."). If you believe that the course is hard then your score will reflect that!



I don't think it was that, considering I won the last tournament (same division-advanced, same competitors) at that same course back in Nov '05.

Slowing down my run up makes sense. If it ever unfortunately happens again, I will try it.

I also think that this has taught me not to play courses in tournaments that exploit my weaknesses (tight, heavily wooded, lefty holes).



Whatever brand of management-speak I hear at work would call these your 'opportunities'. Rather than run from courses that "exploit [your] weaknesses", develop this defect of your game until it's a strength. Part of this is probably going to be slowing down, both literally and figuratively. Take it easy, play it safe enough to find your "tight, heavily wooded, lefty holes" groove and then try to improve on it.

If a person is accustomed to playing wide-open hazard free courses they're going to develop a sloppy style since they're never punished for bad shots. Take that style to a tight park and it's easy to see what will happen.

I try to practice these courses, tight wooded, lefty, etc.

I am just thinking that at the current moment, it is not advantageous to play sanctioned tournaments on them. If I am struggling through a practice round and end up shooting 4-6 over I really do not mind it too much. But when you are 10 shots back on the rest of the division it is harder to focus. Afterall I have only been playing seriously in the competitive arena for little over a year.

Remind us how far off your rating is compared with your actual skill level again... /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Remind us how far off your rating is compared with your actual skill level again... /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif




:p

What ever.

Out of the last 5 tournaments I've played 4 have been at a level where I say I am at. Am I not allowed one bad tournament? Plus my first round was actually pretty good, probably around 960ish if the TD gets the results posted. Then you will see my likely sub 850 debacle. I actually took a circle 6 on a 250ft hole. That one was a nightmare :mad:.

I am just hoping the TD's of my next few events get their rounds in for the next ratings update so that these cruddy ones do not get double rated.

Plus didn't you say that it was possible the shoot far below your rating/competitive level? And that is why you drop 2.5std rounds below the rating? Huh?

I'm just saying if you play enough, including a different variety of courses, you'll have enough good and bad rounds that your rating will be closer to reality, while players like to remember the good ones more than the bad.

BTW on topic, as you get older some players will experience an early release timing problem at some point in the afternoon round due to fatigue. I've sometimes had to go to no runup to regain control, especially if it's a wooded course. Another alternative is to go with a more rounded edge disc or lighter weight to compensate.

as you get older some players will experience an early release timing problem



:eek:

slow down.



I think that this advice (with Greg_R's well thought out explanation of it) is the best advice you'll get on this topic. I've found slowing down to work off the tee, on the fairway, and in the 10M circle.

Remember, speed kills. :D

BTW on topic, as you get older some players will experience an early release timing problem at some point in the afternoon round due to fatigue.



Chuck, is that a fatigue problem or an age problem? if the former it can happen to young players too, if the latter i'm getting worried -- i'll turn 44 in less than 2 weeks. Dr. Rick's rating of 1017 encourages me though ... :D

i guess i'll try to make sure i keep in good shape... how are you doing in terms of healing? hopefully your heart won't be working as hard and you will be experiencing less fatigue this year.

Since I was already 36 when I started, my perspective and groups I typically play in have been older. There's no reason why younger players wouldn't potentially suffer from grip fatigue in a second round. I'm pretty sure a few of my situations were a result of doing chainsaw work the day before an event. Either way, it's something that probably affects players to some extent every once in a while. The other place I notice it is in putting release where you don't open your hand fast enough, the lip of the putter brushes your finger and gets misdirected.

I'm pretty sure a few of my situations were a result of doing chainsaw work the day before an event.



You ain't kiddin' about that, Chuck! We did some clearing at Moraine State Park this weekend before a practice round. My bow saw and pole saw helped me score about 10 strokes above my average....from the white tees!

Everyone encounters this issue in thier career.

You need to get the yips out of your head, and start with a fresh outlook on the next throw.

We all know what a good throw feels like, you just need to identify the point that doesn't feel right and adjust it.

This is easier said then done, if you can't fix it during the round, go throw shots after and figure it out. PGA pros hit the range after almost every round, why shouldn't we!

I try to practice these courses, tight wooded, lefty, etc.


Remember what E.T. said: "There is no try. Only do."


I am just thinking that at the current moment, it is not advantageous to play sanctioned tournaments on them. If I am struggling through a practice round and end up shooting 4-6 over I really do not mind it too much. But when you are 10 shots back on the rest of the division it is harder to focus. Afterall I have only been playing seriously in the competitive arena for little over a year.



If you're trying to avoid things you're no good at, then you've got a good thing going :eek: If you want to win some leagues & tournaments, then perfect your play on your fave course and play every event that comes along there. If you want to be able to play your best on any course in the world, then play recreationally and competitively on the courses that give you nightmares AND scores 100 points off your rating :D

When you're 10 shots back and playing your worst round in months, the best thing you can do for your game is:
A) Quit to keep your rating from dropping
B) Quit to keep yourself from playing and feeling even worse
C) Keep playing since your rating isn't as important as playing
D) Keep playing and put the disc in the basket in the fewest possible throws

My grandfather (and a million other grandfathers) had a sign that read: A bad day fishing is better than a great day at work. I'm sure that can be adapted to DG but I'm tired of typing.

I know. It wasn't ET.

When I say it was not advantageous for me to play sanctioned tournaments on these types of courses I also stated they are ones I need to practice the most too.

Competeting and practicing are different. If execution of the shots under an extreme loss of focus is my problem, I need to better condition myself for these shots. All backhand shots I executed fairly well. But this course demanded a lot of side arm shots, a weakness of mine.

So it is something to work and build on. Yes I want to increase my rating, but that number listed on my card and on this website has no effect on how I play golf.

Yes I want to increase my rating, but that number listed on my card and on this website has no effect on how I play golf.



your rating may have no effect on how you play disc golf in the future or played during non-sanctioned rounds in the past, but it is a straightforward statistical measurement of how you have played competitive PDGA-sanctioned disc golf heretofore.

heretofore.



That is right, I had a lot of fours, a handful of fives and even a circle 6!

On a four hole run in the middle of the 4th round I went 5-6-4-4. Each of these holes were very very very very easy duece holes. After that last 4 I basically just started laughing. The funny thing, is that on all those holes, I made 30ft putts to save that score. The 6 was on a hole that was less than 250ft long.

I don't know you and I'm not pychologist. With that in mind, it seems these could be excuses to avoid competing on courses that are personally challenging.

My suggestions are based on the idea that 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.' Another way of saying it is, to become stronger, improve your weaknesses. Sounds simple and IMO, correct. So, you discovered some weakness in your game; maybe timing was the cause, but it could also be a result of other problems with footwork, release, aim, probably some bad decision-making, inability to focus (or regain focus), self-doubt, tournament nerves, other mental hurdles, etc.

You had a bad tournament. So what ! Next one could be better or worse. But you won't find out if you don't play it.

So after falling off the bicycle the choices are to go back to the tricycle or get back on the big, bad two-wheeler :D

You had a bad tournament. So what ! Next one could be better or worse. But you won't find out if you don't play it.

So after falling off the bicycle the choices are to go back to the tricycle or get back on the big, bad two-wheeler :D



A lot of self reflection has been done these past few days.


1) I did have a timing issue the 2nd round. Now I have advice on how to deal with that, via slowing down sacrificing power/distance for control and accuracy.

2) I have been putting too much emphasis on player/round ratings. So much that it consumed my every thought while assessing what I did and did not do right. An attitude with zero emphasis on ratings is now adopted. After all I never hear any pros talking about ratings, whether they are going up or down. Not even round ratings. Considering I would eventually like to turn pro, I need to develope that attitude as well.

3) Also I have been putting too much pressure on myself to perform well, at current events, large events and even worlds. I know that I am a fairly good golfer, but focusing on how good I should be and not on the tasks at hand create a situation where I am not able to perform to my best abilities.


I am struggling with the change of competitive styles versus the last sport I excelled at. In distance running, confidence to the verge of cockiness gave me a competitive advantage. I am learning the hard way that this is not the way to be compeititive in golf. Cockiness gets you nowhere here. Restrained confidence is what I see as the key.

I know I can make the shots, I just need to relax and let them happen and not trying to force them. Strangley enough I had already learned I miss putts when I force the motion and try to putt through the basket, I learned I needed to relax and let my subconcious do the work. I guess I need to let that happen with my drives.

I guess all tough lessons are learned the hard way, and boy did I go to school last weekend.

Next weekend I have a tournament in one of my favorite disc golf cities, Huntsville Alabama. However I have yet to do well in a tournament there. Perhaps these new lessons will help me play better there then I have in the past.

Time will only tell, and I know that I have not played my last bad round. I guess I can take a page from Kenny's book with his last tournament. He shot his first sub 1000 round in years. This was my first sub 900 round in a while, but obviously he is a billion times better then me but I can at least use him as an example.

On to the next tournament. :D

[QUOTE]

Remember what E.T. said: "There is no try. Only do."

[QUOTE]



Are you sure that wasn't another great philosopher named Yoda?




Slow down your steps, delay your arm acceleration

If that doesn't work you may want go to an abbreviated runup like a one step throw.

Remember what E.T. said: "There is no try. Only do."

[QUOTE]

Are you sure that wasn't another great philosopher named Yoda?




Yes. I made it perfectly clear it was a great philosopher other than E.T. who said it :)

I had the same thing happen to me at the last 2 tourneys that I have played, I was thinking about the entire throw during the runup instead of rehearsing before the runup and executing- bad mistake. I'm back on track now and cant wait to make up for those bad tournaments; out of those 2 tourneys I only had 1 halfway decent round and I only had like 1 birdie that round period.